Page 52 of Fool Me Twice

“Just doing it now,” she said sulkily. “See what I mean? He’s a complete slave driver,” she said through clenched teeth, lowering her voice so only Peter could hear. “But I sent that thingy for Uncle Peter.” She stared triumphantly at her father.

Peter and Leland looked at each other and shrugged.

“Anyway, I can’t hang around. I’ve got a plane to catch.”

“No, Uncle Peter, you only just got back,” Regan pleaded. “You can’t leave me with that tyrant.”

“Sorry, sweetie,” he called, disappearing out the door. “Like I said, I’ve got a plane to catch.”

Chapter twenty-eight

“Do you think Jaxon will like it?” Anya asked on the drive back. They’d been up to the house to check on the progress of the building work, and she was beside herself with excitement over her surprise.

Evie shrugged, not trusting herself to speak. Jaxon wasn’t speaking to her, not since she’d told him about the baby, and it was killing her.

“He’ll come around.” Anya pulled into a parking spot in front of Evie’s house. “It’s just a little raw for him right now, with me being pregnant. He keeps thinking about how he’d feel if someone tried to take his child away from him.”

But it wasn’t like that. She wasn’t taking Peter’s child away from him – not technically. She just wasn’t going to tell him yet.

“I know,” Evie said, patting Anya’s hand. “And I’m sure Jaxon will love it.”

“Really?” Anya turned in her seat to face Evie.

“Really. Now let’s get the shopping unpacked before the ice cream melts.”

Once they’d carried the shopping inside and put it away, Evie poured them a cold drink each while Anya went through a pile of mail she’d picked up at the house.

“Junk mail. Junk mail. Credit card application. Flyer. Oh, that’s strange,” she said, turning over an envelope. “This one is addressed to you, Evie. Looks like someone signed for it.” Anya squinted at the signature, but Evie could see it was obscured by a smudge and a ring from where someone must have split tea or coffee on the envelope. “I can’t make out who, though.”

“That’s odd.” Evie took the envelope from Anya, tearing open the outer packaging. “Why would someone send something to me at your address?”

“I’m not sure,” Anya said. “Are you expecting anything?”

Evie shook her head. “No. Not from the States anyway.” The only person she knew over there was Peter, and what reason did he have to send her anything?

“Who’s it from?”

“I’m not sure, but it looks pretty formal.”

“Well, open it then.”

Evie slid her thumb along the flap and removed the contents. She frowned as she scanned the front page. “It looks like some kind of contract and lots of letters.”

“Contract? What kind of contract?”

“I’m not sure,” she said as she continued to read the documents. “It must be a mistake... it looks like it’s something to do with a custody arrangement or divorce... Oh my God, Anya, it’s Peter’s. Here, look.” She held it up, indicating Peter’s name on the document. A small piece of paper fluttered to the floor; it bore the same letterhead as the other documents. Written on the paper in an elaborate swirl was Here you go Uncle Peter, love Regan, and whoever Regan was, had signed off with a cutesy heart.

“Who’s Regan?” they both asked at the same time.

“Aren’t you going to read it?” Anya asked when Evie tossed the documents onto the countertop.

“I don’t think we should. It’s none of our business. And why should I care what Peter’s doing?”

“It’s addressed to you, Evie. Your name was on both envelopes,” Anya said, pointing at them. “So, strictly speaking, it’s yours and I think you have a moral duty to read it.”

“A moral duty, you say?” Evie wasn’t convinced by Anya’s statement. “Anyway, I have no interest in anything to do with Peter Cook.” She stuck her nose in the air and sniffed as if even the mention of his name emitted a foul odour.

“Fine,” Anya said, as she unloaded the dishwasher, stealing sneaky glances at the documents while putting the cutlery away.

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